Hillside walk, 04 March 2019
The spring peak of blooming is not yet here, but the upward surge in species count has begun. Today's hillside survey revealed several new seasonal flowers. At the beginning of the walk, on the lower north hillside I was greeted by blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum). In upper section of Canyon 8, the specimen of common Pacific pea (Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus) that I know from previous years is in flower once again. The first flowers of black sage (Salvia mellifera) are out in Canyon 5. And there are several other seasonally new species.
A real spectacle on the mid north hillside is the abundance of strigose lotus (Acmispon strigosus), probably thousands of them. The lower north hillside is adorned with many flowers of Canterbury bells (Phacelia minor), with a promise of many more yet to come.
